Frame structure for a casket



y 2, 1957 A. R. CHRISTIAN 2,797,467

FRAME STRUCTURE FOR A CASKET Filed Jan. 27. 1954 NVEN.TOI

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United; States Patent if 7 2,797,467 FRAME STRUCTURE FOR A CASKET Alfred R. Christian, River" Forest, Ill.

Application January 27, 1954, Serial No. 406,504

4 Claims. (Cl. 27-19) This invention relates to a frame structure and more particularly to a frame structure incorporated; in acasket construction or the like.

In casket constructions, it is customary for'the whole or a part of the top thereof to be hingedly mounted in order to: facilitate positioning ofthe body within the casket and to permit as well, viewing; of. the whole or a part of the body, if desired, priorto burial thereof. The inside surface of the top is normally covered over in a decorative material, so: that, when the top is open to permit viewing of the body, the decorative material will present a pleasing and appropriate appearance of the inside of the casket. Heretofore considerable difliculty has been, encountered in constructing, a top, particularly where it is in two sections, which is structurallystrong, lightweight, and enables decorative material to: be. readily attached thereto.

Thus, it: is the object of this invention to provide a frame. construction which is possessed of these desired structuralcharacteristics and yet is inexpensive to procluce.

Further and additional objects will appear from the description, accompanying: drawings, and appended claims.

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, a. frame structure for a casket is provided, comprising an elongated member to which a piece. of pliable. decorative material is to be applied- The member extends crosswiseof the interior of the casket and is. secured at opposite ends to side-forming walls of the: casket interior compartment. One of the elongated. or' exposed edges of the: member is offset into the casket compartment and is partially folded back relative to the remainder of the member to form; an elongated. pocketiwhich is adapted to accommodate a portion of an elongated piece-retaining element. The accommodated portion of the piece-retaining element conforms substantially to the shape of the pocket and effects clamping of aportion of the decorative piece within said pocket whereupon the remainder of the piece may" be folded backand'conceal' the retaining element from view. Yieldable means are provided on the elongated member in spaced relation with respect to the pocket-forming edge thereof for contacting the piece-retaining element and holding the latter in piece-clamping position within the pocket of said member.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference should be made to the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a casket incorporating the improved frame structure and showing a portion of the top of the casket in an open position;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the underside of the section of the casket top, shown in a closed position in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an inverted end view of the improved frame structure taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 44 of F g 'relation. withrespect to one another.

2,797,467 Patented July 2, 1957 Fig. 5 is'an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the improvedframe structure;

Fig. 6 is anenlarged fragmentary perspective view of the underside of one end of the piece-retaining element; and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of a reinforcing bracket for the elongated member.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Fig. 1, a burial casket 10 is shown having a hollow interior compartment 11 in which the body or remains is placed; The casket, in this instance, isprovided with a top 12 which is hingedlyconnected to one of the elongated sides 13' forming one wall of the compartment 11. The top, as shown in this instance, is formed in two companionsections 12a and 12b so that, when desired, only the upper top section 12a may be opened to permit viewingof the upper half of the body disposed within compartment: 11. The compartment 11 is formed by elongated side walls 13 and 14, end walls 15, and base 16.

The framestructure, in this instance, is shown incorporated-in, top: section 12b; however, it is to' be understood, of course, that itis not to be so limited. Top section 12b is'formedof a bulging or arcuate center portion 17 and side trim portions 18, the latter being in the form of a cornice overhanging the corresponding side and end walls when the top is in closed position. The side portions 18* are of substantially the same shape and size as the foldable wing. portions 20 and 21 which surround top section 12a and which were described in my prior Patent No. 2,618,835.

Theim-provedframe structure, in this instance, comprises an elongated brace member 22 which is disposed crosswise. with respect to compartment 11 and has its opposite endsprovided with tabs 23 which are adapted to be secured by welding or any other suitable means to a ledge. 18a formed on side portions 18, see Fig. 5. The exposed elongated edge of member 22, which. is disposed adjacent topsection 12a, is offset downwardly into compartment 11 and is partially folded back under the remainder of member 22 to form a flange 24 which defines an elongated pocket 25. The function of the pocket 25 will become. apparent from the discussion to follow. The flange extends from one side portion 18 of the casket to the other.

The ends of member 22, which are secured or anchored toside portions 18, are reinforced by brackets 26 which have one leg portion 27 thereof secured by welding or any other suitable means to the compartment side of member 22, as seen more clearly in Fig. 2. Angularly disposed with respect to leg portion 27 is a second leg portion 28-whichis adapted to be secured by welding, riveting, or any other suitable means to the adjacent side portion :18 of the top 12b; As noted in Fig. 7, the reinforcing bracket has an arcuate-shaped struck-out portion 30 which is provided with a stiffening rib 31 to maintain the leg portions 27- and 28 in fixed angular Disposed between brackets 26 and removably secured to the compartment side of member 22 is an elongated slat-type retaining piece 32 which is adapted to hold a piece of decorative material or fabric in position with respect to the underside of top section 12b. The opposite ends 32a of element 32 on one side thereof are provided with recesses to accommodate the bracket leg portions 27 which are overlaid by element 32 when the latter is positioned on member 22. One elongated edge 33 of element 32, in this instance, is beveled so as to fit within the pocket 25 formed within member 22 by offset edge 24. One edge portion of the decorative material 34 overlies the top and beveled surfaces of element 32 and is clamped between member 22 and element 32 whenthe latter is positioned within pocket 25. To retain element 3 32 within pocket 25, a plurality of struck-out fingers :35 and 36 are formed in member 22 which are spaced w1th respect to one another and with respect to oifset edge 24.

,The struck-out fingers are adapted to contact the back edge surface and aportion of the undersurface of element 32, as seen more clearly in Fig. 4. The remainder of the decorative material 34 is folded back under element 32 in a manner as seen in Fig. 4 so as to conceal member 22 and element 32 from view. The material 34 covers substantially the full width and length of the underside of top section 125.

Thus, it will be seen that a means for reinforcing and stiffening the top of a casket has been provided which is simple and inexpensive in construction and is adapted also to permit a ready means for securing decorative material,

if desired, to the inside surface of the top.

While a particular embodiment of this invention is shown above, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not to be limited thereto, since many modifications may be made, and it is contemplated, therefore, by the appended claims, to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. In a casket construction, a frame structure forming a part of the interior compartment of such a casket, said structure comprising an elongated member to which a piece of pliable decorative material is to be applied, said member extending crosswise for substantially the full widthof the casket interior compartment at a point intermediate the longitudinal end limits of said casket and being supported at opposite ends by adjacent surface portions of said casket, an elongated protuberance formed on said member and extending longitudinally thereof into the casket compartment, a removable elongated pieceretaining element mountable on the side of said member adjacent the casket compartment for disposition in contact with said protuberance whereby a portion of the pliable piece is clamped therebetween, and means provided on said member and spaced from said protuberance for yieldably retaining said element in piece-clamping contacting relation with respect to said protuberance.

2. In a casket construction, a frame structure forming a part of the interior compartment of such a casket, said structure comprising an elongated member to which a piece of pliable decorative material is to be applied, said member extending crosswise for substantially the full width of the casket interior compartment at a point intermediate the longitudinal end limits of said casket and being supported at opposite ends by adjacent surface portions of said casket, one of the elongated edges of said member being offset toward the casket compartment and in partial fold-back relation with respect to the remainder of said member to form a pocket, a removable elongated piece-retaining element mountable on the side of said member adjacent the casket compartment and having an edge portion thereof disposed within and conforming substantially to the shape of said pocket whereby a portion of the pliable piece is clamped within said pocket, and means provided on said member and spaced from said pocket for yieldably engaging and retaining said element on said member.

3. In a casket construction, a frame structure forming a part of the interior compartment of such a casket, said structure comprising an elongated member to which a piece of pliable decorative material is to be applied, said member extending crosswise for substantially the full width of the casket interior compartment and being supported at opposite ends by adjacent portions of the compartment side-forming walls, an elongated protuberance formed on said member and extending longitudinally thereof into the casket compartment, a pair of reinforcing brackets mounted on the compartment side of said member adjacent the opposite ends thereof, each of said brackets having a first portion connected to said member and an angularly extending integral second portion connected to an adjacent compartment surface, a removable elongated piece-retaining element mountable on the compartment side of the member for disposition intermediate said brackets and in contact with said protuberance whereby a portion of the pliable piece is clamped therebetween, and means provided on said member and spaced from said protuberance for yieldably retaining said element in piece-clamping contacting relation with respect to said protuberance.

4. In a casket construction, a frame structure forming a part of the interior compartment of the casket, said structure comprising an elongated brace member to which a piece of pliable decorative material is to be applied, said brace member extending crosswise of the top of the casketinterior compartment and being supported at opposite ends by the opposing compartment side-forming walls, one of the elongated edges of said brace member being offset into the compartment interior and partially bent back under said brace member to form a pocket, a plurality of reinforcing brackets, each having one portion thereof secured to one end of said brace member and a second portion integral with and extending angularly from said one portion into the compartment interior and being secured to the adjacent compartment surface, an elongated piece-retaining element mountable on the compartment side of said brace member for disposition intermediate said brackets and having an elongated edge thereof disposed within and shaped to conform substantially to said pocket and effect clamping of a portion of the pliable piece therein, said piece-retaining element having portions of the opposite ends thereof in relief for accommodating and overlying the portions of said brackets secured to said brace member when said pieceretaining element is in assembled relation therewith, and yieldable means struck out from said brace member and spaced from the offset edge for partially embracing said piece-retaining element and securing the latter in assembled piece-clamping relation with the offset edge of said brace member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,524,037 King Jan. 27, 1935 

